Rule 1 - NOMENCLATURE AND CONSTITUTION
(A) This Competition shall be designated the York Amateur Association Football League and known as the York Leeper Hare Football League and shall consist of not more than 66 Clubs who shall be Full Member Clubs
All such Member Clubs must be affiliated to an affiliated County Football Association and their names and particulars shall be returned annually by the appointed date on the Form "D" to the North Riding County Football Association. The area covered by the Competition Membership shall be within a radius of not more than 25 miles from York Minster in York. This Competition shall apply annually for sanction to the North Riding County Football Association and the constituent teams of Member Clubs may be grouped in divisions.
Member Clubs shall not enter any of their teams playing in the Competition in any other Competitions (with the exception of F.A. and County F.A. Competitions) except with the written consent of the Management Committee of the Competition.
(B) The League shall consist of a Senior Section comprising first teams only, and a Reserve Section comprising Reserve teams only. Promotion and relegation (two teams) shall take place between divisions in each section with the exception that promotion from Division 1 to the Premier Division will be subject to Clubs having attained a standard of facilities as determined by the Management Committee. No Reserve team to play in the Premier Division unless their first team is playing in a league which is Senior to the York Premier League.
The required standard of facilities required for membership of the Premier Division are as follows:-
(1) All clubs must have separate changing rooms for two teams.
(2) All clubs must have showers (a minimum of 4 heads).
(3) All clubs must have a separate changing room for the referee and assistant referees including shower facilities.
(4) The playing area must be enclosed, i.e. safely and adequately roped off (posts not less than 1.20m high and 3m from touchline). All Premier Clubs MUST have a technical area and two dug outs on the same side, either side of the half way line.
(5) All clubs must have a comprehensive First Aid Kit.
(6) Numbered shirts are compulsory.
An official team sheet as provided must be handed to the referee 10 minutes before the scheduled time of kick off and numbers must correspond to shirts worn.
In the event of any Premier Division Club's facilities falling below the required standard in any season, the club will be fined, and failing rectification, be demoted to Division 1 at the end of that season irrespective of their final placing. Any such club demoted will be replaced by promoting the next highest placed club from Division 1 at the end of that season which has attained the required standard of facilities.
Rule 2 - ENTRY FEE, SUBSCRIPTION, DEPOSIT
(A) Applications by Clubs for admission to this Competition or the entry of an additional team must be made in writing to the Secretary and must be accompanied by an Entry Fee of £30 per team which shall be returned in the event of non-election.
At the discretion of a majority of the accredited voting members present applications, of which due notice has been given, may be received at the Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting. The Entry Fee shall apply.
When Rule 12(B) is applied and a team seeks a transfer or is compulsorily transferred to another division no Entry Fee shall be payable.
(B) The Annual Subscription shall be £40 for Premier Division Teams and £30 per Team in all other Divisions, payable on or before the date of the Annual General Meeting in each year.
(C) Each Club shall within seven days of election pay a Deposit of £60 per team which shall be returnable to Clubs on leaving the Competition provided they have fulfilled their fixtures and complied with all orders of the Management Committee.
(D) A Club shall not participate in this Competition until the Entry Fee, Annual Subscription and Deposit have been paid.
(E) Clubs must advise annually to the Secretary in writing by the date of the Annual General Meeting of its County Football Association affiliation number for the forthcoming Season, Clubs must advise the Secretary in writing, or on the prescribed form, of details of its Headquarters, Officers and any other information required by the Competition.
The Officers of the League shall be the President, Chairman, Vice Chairman, Treasurer, General Secretary, Registration Secretary and Fixtures & Referees Secretary to be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting.
Power shall be vested in the Management Committee to elect Honorary Life Membership to any Member or past member of the Committee in recognition of long and outstanding service.
Rule 4 - MANAGEMENT, NOMINATION, ELECTION
(A) The Competition shall be governed in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of The Football Association by a Management Committee comprised of the Officers and ten members who shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting.
(B) Retiring Officers shall be eligible to become candidates for re-election without nomination. All other candidates for election as Officers or Members of the Management Committee shall be nominated to the Secretary in writing, signed by the Secretaries of two Member Clubs, not later than 30th April in each year. Names of the candidates for election shall be circulated with the notice of the Annual General Meeting. In the event of there being no nomination in accordance with the foregoing for any office, nominations may be received at the Annual General Meeting
(C) The Management Committee shall meet monthly or as often as is necessary to deal with business as it arises.
On receiving a requisition signed by two-thirds of the Members of the Management Committee the Secretary shall convene a meeting of the Committee.
(D) Except where otherwise mentioned all communications shall be addressed to the Secretary who shall conduct the correspondence of the Competition and keep a record of its proceedings.
(E) All communications received from Clubs must be conducted through their nominated Officers.
(F) Expenses shall be allowed to Officers and Management Committee Members.
(A) The Management Committee may appoint such other sub-committees as they may consider necessary and may delegate such of their powers as they deem necessary to such committees. The decisions of all such committees shall be reported to the Management Committee for ratification.
(B) Subject to the permission of the North Riding County Football Association having been obtained the Management Committee may order a match or matches to be played each season, the proceeds to be devoted to the funds of the Competition and, if necessary, may call upon each Club (including any Club which may have withdrawn during the season) to contribute equally such sums as may be necessary to meet any deficiency at the end of the season. (See Rule 6(e)).
(C) Each Member of the Management Committee shall have the right to attend and vote at all Management Committee Meetings and have one vote thereat, but no Member shall be allowed to vote on any matters directly appertaining to such Member or to the Club so represented. (This shall apply to the procedure of any sub-committee). In the event of the voting being equal on any matter, the Chairman shall have a second or casting vote.
(D) The Management Committee shall have powers to apply, act upon and enforce the Rules of the Competition and shall also have jurisdiction over all matters affecting the Competition, including any not provided for in the Rules. Except where these Rules provide for the imposition of a set penalty any Club, Official or Player alleged to be in breach of a Competition Rule must be formally charged in writing and given the opportunity to present their case before the Management Committee. All breaches of the Laws of the Game, Rules and Regulations of The Football Association shall be dealt with in accordance with F.A. Rules.
(E) All decisions of the Management Committee shall be binding subject to the right of appeal to the Board of Appeal in accordance with Rule 16.
Decisions of the Management Committee must be notified in writing to those concerned within 7 days.
(F) Five Members of the Management Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business of the Management Committee and three Members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business by any sub-committee of the Competition.
(G) The Management Committee, as it may deem necessary, shall have power to fill in an acting capacity, any vacancies that may occur amongst their number.
(H) All fines and charges shall be paid within one month of the date of posting of the written notification.
Clubs, Officials or individuals committing a breach of this Rule will incur such penalties as the Management Committee may impose.
(I) A member of the Management Committee appointed by the Competition to attend a meeting or match may have any expenses incurred refunded by the Competition.
(J) The Management Committee shall have the power to fill any vacancy that may occur in the membership of the Competition between the Annual General or Special General Meeting called to decide the constitution and the commencement of the Competition season.
(K) Any member of the Management Committee absenting himself from three consecutive meetings without giving a satisfactory reason shall cease to be a member, and the Management Committee may appoint a successor. Not less than seven days notice shall be given of any meeting.
(L) A club having failed to comply with an order or instruction of the Management Committee within 14 days of receipt of notice of such order, or within 14 days of an operative date specified in that order, shall not be allowed to play or take part in the business of the League until the order has been complied with and a reason for the delay has been furnished to the Secretary, who shall submit it to the Management Committee for their adjudication.
A Club having failed to comply with an order or instruction of the Management Committee or failing to satisfactorily attend to the business and/or the correspondence of the Competition, shall be liable to be fined or otherwise penalised at the discretion of the Management Committee.
(M) Any club or player charged with any breach of Rules or misconduct shall be furnished with details in writing by post. Within 14 days from the posting thereof, the Member so charged shall send an answer in writing and shall be given the opportunity of requesting a personal hearing. Upon receipt of an application for a personal hearing the League shall appoint a Commission to deal with the matter and notify the Member charged of the date and place of Hearing.
In default of an application for a personal hearing or if the Member charged shall fail to attend, the Commission shall investigate and adjudicate upon the charge or allegation in such manner and upon such evidence as they deem expedient.
On misconduct or breach of Rules being proved to the satisfaction of a Commission convened for a personal hearing, they shall have power to order the offending Member to pay all or part of the expenses of and incidental to the consideration of the matter either with or without any other penalty.
Rule 6 - ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
(A) The Annual General Meeting shall be held not later than 30th June in each year. At this meeting the following business shall be transacted provided that at least 2 thirds of the Members are present and entitled to vote:-
(i) To receive and confirm the Minutes of the preceding Annual General Meeting. (ii) To consider any business arising therefrom. (iii) To receive and adopt the Annual Report, Balance Sheet and Statement of Accounts. (iv) Election of Clubs to fill vacancies (as recommended by the Management Committee). (v) Constitution of the Competition for ensuing season. (vi) Election of Officers and Management Committee. (vii) Appointment of Auditors. (viii) Alteration of Rules, if any (of which notice has been given). (ix) Fix the date for the commencement and conclusion of playing season. (x) Other business of which due notice shall have been given and accepted as being relevant to an Annual General Meeting.
(B) A copy of the duly audited Balance Sheet, Statement of Accounts and Agenda shall be forwarded to each Club at least fourteen days prior to the meeting, and to the North Riding County Football Association.
(C) A signed copy of the duly audited Balance Sheet and Statement of Accounts shall be sent to the North Riding County Football Association within fourteen days of its adoption by the Annual General Meeting.
(D) Each Full Member Club shall be empowered to send two delegates to an Annual General Meeting. Each Club shall be entitled to one vote only. Not less than seven days' notice shall be given of any Meeting.
(E) Clubs who have withdrawn their Membership of the Competition during the season being concluded or who are not continuing Membership shall be entitled to attend but shall vote only on matters relating to the season being concluded.
(F) All voting shall be conducted by a show of voting cards unless a ballot be demanded by at least one third of the delegates qualified to vote or the Chairman so decides. Voting for the election of Clubs, Officers and management Committee members shall be by ballot.
(G) No individual shall be entitled to vote on behalf of more than one Full Member Club
(H) Any continuing Member Club failing to be represented at the Annual General Meeting without satisfactory reason being given shall be fined £40
(I) Officers and Management Committee members shall be entitled to attend and vote at an Annual General Meeting.
Rule 7 - AGREEMENT TO BE SIGNED
The Chairman and the Secretary of each Club shall complete and sign the following agreement which shall be deposited with the Competition together with the Application for Membership for the coming season, or upon indicating that the Club intends to compete.
"We, A,_____ _____________of _______________________(Chairman) and B________________________of _________________________(Secretary) of the _________________________________Football Club have been provided with a copy of the Rules and Regulations of the York Association Football League Competition and do hereby agree for and on behalf of the said Club to, if elected or accepted into Membership, to conform to those Rules and Regulations and to accept, abide by and implement the decisions of the Management Committee of the Competition, subject to the right of appeal in accordance with Rule 16.
Any alteration of the Chairman and /or Secretary on the above Agreement must be notified to the __________________________County Football Association(s) to which the Club is affiliated and to the Secretary of the Competition.
(Note: The spaces above are intended for the inclusion of the signatures and addresses of officers and members).
Rule 8 - QUALIFICATION OF PLAYERS
(A) Contract players, as defined in Football Association Rules, are not permitted in this Competition.
(B) A registered playing member of a Club is one who, being in all other respects eligible, has:-
(i) Signed a fully and correctly completed Competition registration form in ink, countersigned by an Officer of the Club, which has been posted to the League Registration Secretary bearing a postmark earlier than Kick-off time on the day of the match or has been delivered to the League Registration Secretary before Kick-off time on the day of the match. Any player having played under the conditions of this clause shall not play again until the Club is in possession of his completed registration counterfoil.
NB. A STAMPED ADDRESSED ENVELOPE MUST BE ENCLOSED FOR THE RETURN OF THE REGISTRATION COUNTERFOIL
C) A player having taken part in matches for any Club affiliated to any County Football Association shall not be allowed to join, be transferred to, or sign for a Club in the Competition without first proving to the officials of the intended Club that the player has discharged all reasonable financial liabilities to the previous Club or Clubs, and a Club official may not accept such player's signature without first ascertaining whether such claims have been discharged to the satisfaction of the Club, or Clubs, for which the player last played.
(D) The number of players signing on is to be restricted to 50 players for Clubs with two teams and 30 players for Clubs with one team. No player can sign on after 1st March.
(E) The Management Committee shall decide all registration disputes.
In the event of a player signing a registration form or having a registration submitted for more than one Club priority of registration shall decide for which Club the player shall be registered. The Registrations Secretary shall notify the Club last applying to register the player of the fact of the previous registration.
(F) It shall be deemed misconduct for a player to:-
(i) Play for more than one Club in the Competition in the same season without first being transferred.
(ii) Having signed for one Club in the Competition, sign for another Club in the Competition in that season except for the purpose of a transfer. (iii) Submit a signed registration form for registration that the player had wilfully neglected to accurately or fully complete.
(G) (i) The Management Committee shall have power to accept the registration of any player. The Management Committee shall have power to refuse, cancel or suspend the registration of any player or may fine any player at their discretion proved guilty of registration irregularities. (Subject to Rule 16).
(ii) The Management Committee shall have power to refuse or cancel the registration of any player found guilty of undesirable conduct and to disqualify the player in question from participating in all games in the Competition. (Subject to Rule 16).
(Note: Action under Clause (ii) shall not be taken against a player for misconduct on the field of play until the matter has been dealt with by the appropriate Association, and then only in cases of the player bringing the Competition into disrepute.)
(H) Subject to Football Association rules, dealing with players without a written contract, when a player desires a transfer the Club the player wishes to transfer to shall submit a transfer form to the Registrations Secretary. Such transfers shall be referred by the Registrations Secretary to the Club for which the player is registered. Should this Club object to the transfer, it should state its objections in writing to the Registrations Secretary and to the player concerned within 7 days of receipt of the transfer form. Upon receipt of the Club’s consent, or upon its failure to give written objection within 7 days, the Registrations Secretary may, on behalf of the Management Committee, transfer the player who shall be deemed eligible to play for the new club from such date. No transfer of players shall take place after 1st March. In the event of an objection to a transfer the matter shall be referred to the Management Committee for a decision.
In the event of an objection to a transfer the matter shall be referred to the Management Committee for a decision.
(I) A player may not be registered for a Club nor transferred to another Club in the Competition after 1st March except by special permission of the Management Committee.
(J) A Club shall keep a list of the players it registers and a record of the games in which they have played, and shall produce such records upon demand by the Management Committee.
(K) A register containing the names of all players registered for each Club, with the date of registration, shall be kept by the Registrations Secretary and shall be open to the inspection of any duly appointed Member Club representative at all Management Committee meetings or at other times mutually arranged.
(L) A player shall not be eligible to play for a team in any special championship, promotion or relegation deciding match (as specified in Rule 12(A)) unless the player has played four games for that team in this Competition in the current season.
(M) (i) Any team playing an unregistered or otherwise ineligible player or players SHALL have the points gained in the match deducted from its total and SHALL be fined and/or otherwise dealt with at the discretion of the Management Committee. Any member of the Armed Forces registered in our League MUST have sought permission from their Commanding Officer.
(ii) In addition the team may have three points deducted from its total at the discretion of the Management Committee and may be dealt with in any further manner which is thought to be fit.
(iii) The Management Committee in exceptional circumstances may, at its discretion, award any points deducted from a Club under this Rule to the opponents in the match in question, subject to the match not being ordered to be replayed.
(N) (i) Priority must be given at all times to school and school organisations activities (ii) The availability of children must be cleared with the Head Teachers (except for Sunday Leagues)
(iii) Children under 14 shall not play in a team involving players who are more than 2 years older. (Note: For players under the age of 18 the provisions contained in Football Association Rules will apply)
Rule 9 - CLUB COLOURS. CLUB NAME
(A) Every Club must register the colour of its shirts and shorts with the Secretary, by 1st August, who shall decide as to their suitability.
Goalkeepers must wear colours which distinguish them from other players and the referee.
No player, including the goalkeeper, shall be permitted to wear black or very dark shirts.
Any team not being able to play in its normal colours as registered with the Competition shall notify the colours in which they will play to its opponents at least three days before the match.
If, in the opinion of the referee, two Clubs have the same or similar colours, the away team shall make the change. Any team not having a change of colours or delaying the kick-off by not having a change shall be fined £10.
The Secretary of the Competition may request shirts to be submitted if complaints are received as to lack of distinguishing colours, and the Management Committee may refuse to permit any shirts or shorts as they think fit. Teams in the Premier Division must wear numbered shirts.
(B) Any Club wishing to change its name and/or colours must seek permission from its affiliated County Association and from the Management Committee.
Rule 10 - PLAYING SEASON, CONDITIONS OF PLAY, TIMES OF KICK OFF, POSTPONEMENTS, SUBSTITUTES.
A) The Annual General Meeting shall determine the commencing and concluding dates for the ensuing season which shall be in accordance with Football Association Rules. No Club shall be compelled to play after the concluding date. Original fixtures arranged by the Secretary must not be arranged for a date later than seven days preceding the concluding date determined by the Annual General Meeting.
(B) All matches shall be played in accordance with the Laws of the Game as determined by the International Football Association Board.
Clubs must take all reasonable precautions to keep their grounds in a playable condition. All matches shall be played on pitches deemed suitable by the Management Committee. If through any fault of the home team a match has to be replayed, the Management Committee shall have power to order the venue to be changed.
The Management Committee shall have power to decide whether a pitch and/or facilities are suitable for matches in the Competition and to order the Club concerned to play its fixtures on another ground.
All matches shall have a duration of 90 minutes unless a shorter time (not less than 60 minutes) is mutually arranged by the two captains in consultation with the referee prior to the commencement of the match, and in any event shall be of equal halves.
The times of kick-off shall be fixed by the A.G.M. or the Management Committee. Any Club failing to commence at the appointed time shall be fined a sum not exceeding £10 or be otherwise dealt with as the Management Committee may determine.
Referees must order matches to commence at the appointed time and must report all late starts to the Competition.
The home team must provide at least two footballs fit for play and the referee shall make a report to the Competition if the footballs are unsuitable. Goal nets must be used.
(C) Except by permission of the Management Committee all matches must be played on the dates originally fixed but priority shall be given to The Football Association and all relevant County Association Cup Competitions. All other matches must be considered secondary. Clubs may mutually agree to bring forward a match with the consent of the Secretary. (D) The Secretary of the home Club must give notice in writing of full particulars of the location of, and access to, the ground and time of kick-off to the match official(s) and the Secretary of the opposing Club at least three clear days prior to the playing of the match. . Any Club failing to comply with this Rule shall be liable to a fine of £10
(E) Every Club shall play its best available qualified team or teams in all matches in the Competition. (Note: The intention of this Rule is not to interfere with normal team selection by Clubs, but to prevent Clubs deliberately fielding a weakened team in order to unreasonably reserve players for another game or to boost the strength of another or lower team. It is NOT intended that Clubs MUST field higher team players in lower teams when the higher team has no engagement.
If, in the opinion of the Management Committee, the substance or spirit of the Rule is obviously being disregarded, the Club or Clubs concerned may be called to account for its/their actions and shall be subject to such decisions as the Management Committee may determine, despite the fact that Rule 8 has not been infringed.)
In the event of a Club playing in any match with less than 8 players they may be fined for each missing player. A minimum of 7 players will constitute a team for a Competition match.
(F) Home and away matches shall be played. In the event of a Club failing to keep its engagement the Management Committee shall have power to inflict a fine, deduct points from the defaulting Club, order the defaulting Club to pay any expenses incurred by the opponents or otherwise deal with them except the award of goals. Not withstanding the foregoing home and away provision, the Management Committee shall have power to order a match to be played on a neutral ground or on the opponent's ground if they are satisfied that such action is warranted by the circumstances. The following claims are recognised as legitimate and the Management Committee are given full powers to impose same: Expenses of referees, Printing and advertising, Travelling expenses, Marking out of grounds and Police, plus any ground hire fees incurred on production of a relevant receipt. The charge for marking out a ground when allowed shall be £5.
Travelling expenses will be based on a mileage allowance for 14 players as determined from time to time by the Management Committee.
All claims must be made within 7 days from the date on which the match should have taken place.
Any Club with more than one team in the Competition shall always fulfil its fixture, within the Competition, in the following order of precedence:- First Team, Reserve Team, A Team. Clubs in breach of this requirement shall be fined a sum not exceeding £20 or otherwise dealt with by the Management Committee.
Notice of postponement of any match must be given without delay by the postponing Club (or notice of a Club being unable to fulfil any match must be given 14 Days prior to the match by the Club) to the Secretary, the Competition Referees Appointments Secretary, the Secretary of the opposing Club and the match officials. Any Club failing to comply shall be dealt with by the Management Committee who may inflict any penalty it may deem suitable.
No Club has power to postpone or cancel any League match unless circumstances apply as described in Rule 13(d) (obvious unfitness of ground) OR application has been and consent received for a postponement from the Management Committee at least 14 days before the scheduled date of the match.
In the event of a match not being played or abandoned owing to causes over which neither Club has control, it shall be played in its entirety on a date to be mutually agreed by the two Clubs and approved by the Management Committee. Failing such agreement and notification to the Secretary within 14 days the Management Committee shall have power to order the match to be played on a named date or on or before a given date.
The Management Committee shall review all abandoned matches and in a case where it is to the advantage of the Competition and does no injustice to either Club, shall be empowered to order the score at the time of the abandonment to stand. In all cases where the Management Committee are satisfied that a match was abandoned owing to the conduct of one team or its Club member(s) they shall be empowered to take what other action they may deem necessary. In cases where a match is abandoned owing to the conduct of both teams or their Club members, the Management Committee shall take such action as they consider appropriate. Such action is subject to any disciplinary action taken by the appropriate County Association.
Any Club postponing a match for which prior application has not been made and consent received must send, no later than 7 days after the scheduled date of the match postponed, a full written explanation to the League Secretary for consideration by the Management Committee who will not approve the postponement unless the circumstances are exceptional.
Clubs postponing a match without a reason considered valid by the Management Committee shall be fined £20 for a first offence which will be increased for any repetition during the same season. In addition 3 points will be deducted for each offence. Clubs may bring forward a match with the consent of the League secretary and all interested parties.
No Club is allowed to play more than one match against different opponents in the same Division or section on the same day.
(G) A Club may at its discretion and in accordance with the Laws of the Game use 3 substitute players in any match in this Competition who may be selected from 3 players.
The referee shall be informed of the names of the substitutes not later than 5 minutes before the start of the match.
A player who has been selected, appointed or named as a substitute before the start of the match but does not actually play in the game shall not be considered to have been a player in that game within the meaning of Rule 8 of this Competition.
(H) The half time interval shall be of five minutes duration, but it shall not exceed ten minutes. The half time interval may only be altered with the consent of the referee.
(I) All Clubs playing in this league, no matter which Division, MUST have Personal Accident Insurance for players. This is a directive from the North Riding County FA and is compulsory.
(A) The Referees & Fixtures Secretary must receive within THREE days of the date played, the result of each Competition match in the prescribed manner. This must include the forename(s) and surname of the team players (in block letters) and also the Referee markings required by Rule 13, or any other information required by the Competition. Failure to do so will incur a fine of £10 or the Club being dealt with as the Management Committee decide.
(B) The Home Club shall telephone the result of each match to the Secretary by 6:30pm on the day of the match. (or by 9:30pm for games played in the evening)
(C) The match result notification, correctly completed, shall be signed by a responsible member of the Club. The Management Committee shall have power to take such action as they deem suitable against a Club which submits an incomplete form or incorrect information.
Rule 12 - DETERMINING CHAMPIONSHIP
(A) Team rankings within the Competition will be decided by points with THREE points to be awarded for a win and ONE point for a drawn match. The teams gaining the highest number of points in their respective Divisions at the conclusion shall be adjudged the winners. Matches must not be played for double points.
In the event of two or more teams being equal on points team rankings will be decided in the following ways:-
(i) goal difference, if still equal then by (ii) goal average, if still even then by (i) goals scored, if still even then by (ii) deciding match(es) played under conditions determined by the Management Committee.
B) Automatic promotion and relegation shall be applied for the first two and last two teams in each Division except as provided for hereunder, subject to the provisions of Rule 1(b).
(i) Should one or more teams withdraw from any one Division after the fixtures have commenced an equal number of teams to those withdrawing in that Division shall not be automatically relegated.
(ii) Vacancies occurring after the conclusion of the season may be filled on any of the following ways:
(a) retention of otherwise relegated team(s) (b) additional promotion of the next ranked team(s) from the Division below (c) election
(iii) The last two teams in the lowest Division shall retire, but be eligible for re-election except as below, and be subject to the conditions of paragraph (B)(1) above.
(C) In all cases where a Club has failed to complete its fixtures during the season the record of the matches played by such a Club shall be deleted from the League Table if more than two matches remain to be played. If a Club only has one or two matches un-played, points shall be awarded as follows:-
(a) If the Club which was not in default lost or drew the first match, one point shall be awarded to such Club.
(b) If the Club which was not in default won the first match the points normally awarded for a win shall be awarded to such Club.
(c) In a case where two matches against one Club have not been played, the Club not in default shall be awarded the points normally awarded for a win.
(A) Registered Referees (and Assistant Referees where possible in the Premier Division) for all matches shall be appointed in a manner approved by the Management Committee and by the sanctioning Association.
(B) In the event of the non-appearance of the appointed Referee the appointed senior Assistant Referee (Premier Division only) shall take charge and a substitute Assistant Referee appointed by the competing Teams. In cases where there are no officially appointed Assistant Referees, the Clubs shall agree upon a Referee. A Referee thus agreed upon shall, for that game, have the full powers, status and authority of a registered Referee.
(C) The Management Committee may, if they consider it desirable, or upon application by the two competing Clubs, appoint Assistant Referees, if available, to any match.
Where Assistant Referees are not appointed each Team shall provide a Club Assistant Referee. Failure to do so will result in a fine of £5 being imposed on the defaulting Team.
(D) The appointed Referee shall have power to decide as to the fitness of the ground in all matches and the decision shall be final subject to either in the case of a ground of a Local Authority or the owners of a ground, the Representative of that body is the sole arbiter and whose decision must be accepted unless the ground is declared fit for play. In the event of the Secretary of the Home Club considering that the ground will be obviously unfit for play, he shall, after notifying the League Secretary, have power to postpone the match to save the visiting Club and match officials unnecessary travelling expense. The Home Club Secretary is to notify all concerned.
Note REFEREES AND SECRETARIES SHOULD NOT HASTILY POSTPONE OR ABANDON GAMES
(E) Match Officials appointed under this Rule shall be entitled to charge standard class public transport expenses or private car expenses of 18p per mile together with the following match fees:-
Premier Division:- Referee £12. Registered Referees appointed by the Management Committee as Assistant Referees_£6, subject to any limits laid down by the sanctioning Association(s). The Home Club shall pay the Officials their fees and expenses immediately after the match. If Assistant Referees are appointed, the cost of the fees and expenses of all the Match Officials should be shared equally between the Home & Away Clubs.
All other Divisions:- Referee £10. Registered Referees appointed by the Management Committee as Assistant Referees_£5, subject to any limits laid down by the sanctioning Association(s). The Home Club shall pay the Officials their fees and expenses immediately after the match. If Assistant Referees are appointed, the cost of the fees and expenses of all the Match Officials should be shared equally between the Home & Away Clubs. The home Club is responsible for paying the match officials in full and recovering one half share from the visiting club.
(F) In the event of a match not being played because of circumstances over which the Clubs have no control, the Match Officials, if present, shall be entitled to half fee plus expenses. Where a match is not played owing to one Club being in default, that Club shall be ordered to pay the Officials, if they attend the ground, their full fee and expenses.
(G) A Referee not keeping his engagement, and failing to give a satisfactory explanation as to his non-appearance, may have his name removed from the list of Referees and the fact reported to the Association with which he is registered. Referees must not exchange appointments without the approval of the Referee's Appointments Secretary
(H) Each Club shall, in a manner prescribed from time to time by The Football Association, award marks to the Referee for each match and the name of the Referee and the marks awarded shall be submitted to the Competition on the prescribed Form provided. CLUBS MUST PROVIDE A WRITTEN EXPLANATION FOR AWARDING A REFEREE 4 MARKS OR LESS. Clubs failing to comply with this Rule shall be liable to be fined or dealt with as the Management Committee shall determine.
(I) The Competition shall keep a record of the markings and, on the Form provided by the prescribed date each season, shall submit a summary to The Football Association/County Association.
(J) Referees and Assistant Referees shall be supplied, each Season, with a copy of the Competition Rules free of charge.
(K) No League Referee shall be allowed to play for or against any Club in the League. Should a referee play for any Club in the League his name shall be deleted from the list if League Referees.
(N) No Official of the League, who is a Referee, shall be appointed to officiate in any match connected with such League unless the appointed Referee intimates his inability to officiate within twenty-four hours prior to the match.
Rule 14 - CONTINUATION OF MEMBERSHIP OR WITHDRAWAL OF A CLUB
(A) After 31st December in the current Season a Club intending, or having a provisional intention, to withdraw a team from the Competition on completion of its fixtures and fulfilment of all other obligations to the Competition must notify the Secretary in writing by 31st March each Season or be liable to a fine not exceeding £20
(B) A Club shall not be allowed to withdraw any or all of its teams from the Competition after the Annual General Meeting for the following Season. Any Club infringing this Rule shall be liable to a fine not exceeding £20 per team and shall also be liable for its share of any call which may be made under Rule 5(B).
(C) The Membership for the coming season having been decided at a Special General Meeting held for that purpose not earlier than 30th April nor later than 30th June or at the Annual General Meeting held not later than 30th June the Competition shall have the right, irrespective of other provisions in this Rule, to refuse to permit a Club to withdraw its team(s) in order to join another Competition and may hold the Club to its engagements
D) In the event of a Member Club which is an un-incorporated association withdrawing and/or disbanding it shall be immediately liable to discharge all its financial and other obligations to the Competition.
In the event that any such obligation remains un-discharged after a period of fourteen (14) days then such obligation shall be met by the then current Club Members, excluding those under the statutory school leaving age. Until a Member's pro rata obligation is discharged in full the Member shall not be allowed to participate in the Competition, which may apply to the Club's Parent County Association for a suspension order.
Rule 15 - PROTESTS AND APPEALS
(A) (i) All questions of eligibility, qualifications of players or interpretations of the Rules shall be referred to the Management Committee. (ii) Objections relevant to the dimensions of the pitch, goals, flag posts or other facilities of the venue will not be entertained by the Management Committee unless a protest is lodged with the Referee before the commencement of the match. Any Club lodging such protest and not proceeding with it shall be deemed guilty of a breach of this Rule and shall be dealt with by the Management Committee.
(B) Except in cases where the Management Committee decide that there are special circumstances, protests and complaints (which must contain full particulars of the grounds upon which they are founded) must be lodged in duplicate with the Secretary within seven days (excluding Sundays) of the match or occurrence to which they refer. A protest or complaint shall not be withdrawn except by permission of the Management Committee. A Member of the Management Committee who is a member of any Club involved shall not be present (except as a witness or representative of his Club) when such protest or complaint is being determined.
(C) Any dispute occurring between Clubs in the Competition shall be referred for determination by the Management Committee whose decision shall be binding upon all parties subject to Rule 16.
(D) No protest of whatever kind shall be considered by the Management Committee unless the complaining Club shall have deposited with the Secretary a sum of £10. This may be forfeited in whole or in part in the event of the complaining or protesting Club losing its case. The Competition shall have power to order the defaulting Club or the Club making a losing or frivolous protest or complaint to pay the expenses of the enquiry or to order that the costs to be shared by the parties.
(E) All parties to a protest or complaint must be afforded an opportunity to make a statement when the protest or complaint is being heard and must have received seven days notice of the hearing, together with a copy of the submission. When dealing with a protest or complaint the Management Committee shall take into consideration the possession by the protesting or complaining Club of any information which, if properly used, might have avoided the protest or complaint.
Within 14 days of the posting of written notification of any decision of the Management Committee or the Competition a Club, Official or Player against whom action is taken may appeal against such decision by lodging particulars in duplicate with the Secretary of the North Riding County Football Association, including a fee of £25, for adjudication of a Board of Appeal. The grounds of appeal shall be in accordance with FA Rules. The Board of Appeal may order the appeal fee to be forfeited and shall decide by whom the costs of the appeal shall be borne. The decision of the Board of Appeal is final and binding on all parties concerned.
Rule 17 - EXCLUSION OF CLUBS OR TEAMS MISCONDUCT, CLUBS, OFFICIALS, PLAYERS
(A) At the Annual General Meeting, or Special General Meeting called for the purpose, Notice of Motion having been duly circulated on the Agenda, the accredited delegates present shall have the power to exclude any Club or Team from further membership upon a majority of two-thirds of the votes cast. Voting on this point shall be conducted by ballot.
(B) At the Annual General Meeting, or at a Special General Meeting called for the purpose, in accordance with the provisions of Rule 19, the accredited delegates present shall have the power to exclude from further participation in the Competition any Club whose conduct has, in their opinion, been undesirable upon a majority of two-thirds of the votes cast. Voting on this point shall be conducted by ballot. A Club whose conduct is the subject of the vote being taken shall be excluded from voting.
(C) Any official or member of a Club proved guilty of either misconduct, other than field offences, or of inducing or attempting to induce a player or players of another Club in the Competition to join them shall be liable to expulsion or such penalty as a General Meeting or Management Committee may decide, and their Club shall also be liable to expulsion in accordance with the provisions of Clauses (A) and (B) of this Rule.
(D) Any Club or Team failing to complete its fixtures in any season shall (unless the conditions are beyond their control, or the accredited delegates present at the Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting decide otherwise by a majority of two-thirds of the votes cast) be debarred from membership the following season.
Rule 18 - TROPHY:- LEGAL OWNERS, CONDITIONS OF TAKING OVER, AGREEMENT TO BE SIGNED, AWARDS
(A) A Competition Cup or Trophy shall be vested in the Association sanctioning the Competition as Trustees. If a Competition be discontinued for any cause the Cup or Trophy shall be returned to the Donor, if the conditions attached to it so provide, or otherwise dealt with as the Association may decide. At the close of each Competition awards may be made to the winners and runners-up if the funds of the Competition permit.
The following agreement shall be signed on behalf of the winners of the Cup or Trophy:-
"We A______________and B_____________________, the Chairman and Secretary of ________________________FC, members of and representing the Club, having been declared winners of _____________________Cup or Trophy, and it having been delivered to us by the Competition, do hereby on behalf of the Club jointly and severally agree to return the Cup or Trophy to the Competition Secretary on or before _____________________. If the Cup or Trophy is lost or damaged whilst under our care we agree to refund to the Competition the amount of its current value or the cost of its thorough repair (less any recovery from Insurance) whichever the Management Committee may deem necessary".
All League Trophies are to be returned to the League Secretary by 1st March each year. No engraving of any trophies should take place without the permission of the League Management. Trophy winners will pay the League a fee for the insurance cover and engraving.
Rule 19 - SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING
Upon receiving a requisition signed by two-thirds of the Clubs in membership the Secretary shall call a Special General Meeting.
The Management Committee may call a Special General Meeting at any time.
At least 7 days notice shall be given of either meeting under this Rule, together with an agenda of the business to be transacted at such meeting. Each Full Member Club shall be empowered to send two delegates to all Special General Meetings. Each Club shall be entitled to one vote only. Not less than 7 days' notice shall be given of any Meeting.
Any continuing Member Club failing to be represented at a Special General Meeting without satisfactory reason being given shall be fined £20
Officers and Management Committee members shall be entitled to attend and vote at all Special General Meetings.
Alterations shall be made to these Rules only at the Annual General Meeting or at a Special General Meeting specially convened for the purpose called in accordance with Rule 19. Any alteration made during the playing season to the Rule relating to the qualification of players shall not take effect until the following season.
Notice of proposed alterations to be considered at the Annual General Meeting shall be submitted, by Clubs, to the Secretary by 1st May in each year. These proposals, together with any proposals by the Management Committee, shall be circulated to all Clubs with the Notice of the Annual General Meeting and any amendments thereto shall be proposed and decided at the meeting. A proposal to change a Rule shall be carried if a majority of those present and entitled to vote are in favour.
A copy of the proposed alterations to Rules to be considered at the Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting shall be submitted to the sanctioning Football Association 14 days prior to the date of the meeting.
Any alterations or additions decided upon at any meeting shall not become operative until the approval of the Association issuing sanction shall have been obtained.
Rule 21 - RULES BINDING ON CLUBS
Each Member Club shall be deemed to have given its assent to the foregoing Rules and agreed to abide by the decisions of the Management Committee subject to Rule 16. Each Member Club must abide by any issued Football Association Code of Conduct.
(A) The Management Committee shall determine with which bank or other financial institution the funds of the Competition will be lodged.
(B) All expenditure in excess of £350 shall be approved by the Management Committee. Cheques shall be signed by at least two Officers nominated by the Management Committee.
(C) The financial year of the Competition will end 20th May
(D) The books, or a certified balance sheet, of a Competition shall be prepared and shall be audited annually by some suitable person(s) who shall be appointed at the Annual General Meeting.
Rule 23 - DEFAULTING CLUBS, PLAYERS OR OFFICIALS
All fines, suspensions and payments imposed upon Clubs, Players, Referees, or Officials, by the League Committee must be reported by the Secretary of the League to such Club, Player, or Referee, or Official within seven days. All fines and payments must be made, to the Secretary of the League within one month after adjudication, and if not paid during that period the facts must be reported to the Secretary of the Association with whom the Club affected is affiliated, within seven days, in order that the defaulting Club, Player, referee, or Official may be suspended. When it is necessary to report the facts to the County Association, as above, the amount shall be doubled and the Association shall add any other amount the Council may decide. If the facts are not reported within seven days after the expiration of the month from the date of the fine being imposed, the suspension of the defaulting Club, Player, referee, or Official will not be enforced.
YORK LEAGUE CUP COMPETITION RULES
These Competitions shall be called "The York League Cup Competitions" consisting of Senior, Junior and Reserve Sections. Teams in the Premier and Division 1 will compete for the Senior Cup, teams in Divisions 2 and 3 for the Junior Cup and teams in the Reserve Sections for the Reserve Cup.
The management of the Competitions shall be vested in the Management Committee of the York Leeper Hare Football League. The Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer of the League shall be the legal holders of the Trophies in trust for the League. If the Competitions shall cease to exist or operate, the Trophies shall be handed over to the Sanctioning Association unless the conditions attached to the Trophies provide for their return to the Donors.
The Competition shall be annual and all teams in membership of the League must enter. The Entrance Fee shall be £20 per team, payable at the Annual General Meeting. No entrance fee will be charged at Finals unless the game is held at Bootham Crescent.
The ties shall be drawn by round and the matches played on or before the dates fixed. In every case the first drawn has the choice of ground. Clubs with First and Reserve teams drawn at home on the same day must concede ground advantage in one tie if an alternative ground is not available. Any tie postponed from the date fixed due to the unfitness of the ground must be played the following week. If the Home Club's ground remains unfit, the Home Club must make provision to provide an alternative ground or play the tie on the ground of the Away Club.
Each game must be of 90 minutes duration and, in the event of a draw after 90 minutes play, EXTRA TIME MUST BE PLAYED.
If after extra time the scores are still level, the match shall be decided upon by the taking of penalty kicks as laid down in the Laws of the Game.
Where a match is stopped on account of darkness or other unavoidable cause before the agreed time or extra time has been completed, it will be replayed on the same ground.
The Final Ties will be played on neutral grounds. In the Final Ties (including re-played ties) the League shall take all gate receipts and pay reasonable expenses if the receipts warrant it.
Any Club refusing or failing to play the Club against which it has been drawn within the time intimated without sufficient reason for so doing, shall be expelled from the Competition.
6 QUALIFICATION OF PLAYERS - SUBSTITUTES
No player shall be allowed to play for more than one competing Club in the same competition in the same season, but the members of each competing team may be changed during the series of matches. Each player must be a REGISTERED PLAYING MEMBER of the Club.
Three Substitutes per team are permitted in all matches played under the rules of the Competition. The referee MUST be informed of the names of the substitutes before the start of the match.
A player who has been dismissed by the Referee during a match shall not be replaced.
A PLAYER WHO LEAVES THE FIELD FOR ANY REASON MUST NOT TAKE PART IN ANOTHER MATCH UNTIL THAT IN WHICH HE COMMENCED HAS ENDED.
No player, having taken part in the Senior or Junior League Cup is allowed to play in the Reserve League Cup in the same season.
No player who has played for a Team in a League senior to the York League Premier Division within the previous 28 days is eligible to play in the Junior or Reserve Cup.
Any Club playing an ineligible player shall be liable to be struck out of the Competition or otherwise dealt with as the Management Committee may decide.
7. PROTESTS - APPEALS - DEPOSITS
All protests must be lodged with the LEAGUE SECRETARY in writing (in duplicate) within 3 days of the match and must be accompanied by a fee of £10 which sum, in the event of such protest or complaint not being sustained, may be forfeited.
No objection relative to ground, goalposts, bars or appurtenances of the game shall be entertained unless a protest is lodged with the Referee before the commencement of the match by the Captain of the protesting team in the presence of the Captain of the opposing team.
In the event of a Club being dissatisfied with the decision of the League Management Committee, they shall have the right of appeal to the Association sanctioning the Competitions. Such appeal must be made within 14 days of the date of receipt of the advice of the decision and must be accompanied by a fee of £25 which may be forfeited to the Association in the event of the appeal not being sustained. The procedure for making such appeal and the grounds on which this may be made is as designated in the general League Rule 16.
8. RESULTS - REPORT FORMS - FINES
The HOME CLUB must inform the League Press Secretary by telephone on the date played the result of each match and BOTH CLUBS must confirm the result in writing to the League Secretary within 3 days giving the INITIALS AND SURNAMES of all their players taking part in the match (IN BLOCK LETTERS) and also the referee's name and marks awarded as required by general League Rule 13, or in default be fined the sum of £10 or be dealt with as the Management Committee decide.
The Result form, FULLY and CORRECTLY completed, shall be signed by a responsible member of the Club and the Management Committee shall have power to take such action as they deem suitable against a Club and/or individuals who submit a form that is incorrect.
Referees for all matches and Assistant Referees for the Final Ties shall be appointed by the Management Committee. Officials appointed under this rule shall be entitled to charge a fee of £10 in addition to a mileage allowance of 18p per mile to be paid by the HOME Club on the day of the match. Where Assistant Referees are appointed in matches prior to the Final Ties, they shall be entitled to charge a fee of £5 in addition to a mileage allowance of 18p per mile, such fees and expenses of both Assistant Referees added together to be shared by the competing Clubs and paid on the day of the match.
10. AWARDS - AGREEMENT TO BE SIGNED
At the close of each Competition Awards may be made to the winners and runners up if the funds of the League permit.
The following agreement shall be signed on behalf of the winners of the Trophies: We,.............of...............FC...............and..............................Members of and representing the said Club having been declared winners of the York Leeper Hare Football League Senior/Junior/Reserve Trophy and the same having been delivered to us by the said League, do hereby on behalf of the said Club jointly and severally agree to return the same to the League Secretary on or before 1st March in accordance with the Rules of the League, and providing the said Trophy is lost or damaged whilst under our care, we agree to refund to the League the amount of its current value or the cost of its thorough repair less any recovery from insurance, whichever the Management Committee of the League may deem necessary.
All League Trophies are to be returned to the League Secretary by 1st March each year. No engraving of any trophies should take place without the permission of the League Management. Trophy winners will pay the League a fee for the insurance cover and engraving
The Management Committee shall have power to apply, act upon and enforce the Rules of the Competitions, and shall also have jurisdiction over all matters affecting the Competitions, including any not provided for by the Rules.